ECSU vs. Shepherd University

Should I go to Elizabeth City State University or Shepherd University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ECSU or Shepherd University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Elizabeth City State University vs. Shepherd University comparison
Elizabeth City State University Shepherd University College 3 College 4
Elizabeth City State University Shepherd University
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Overview

 ECSU Shepherd University
Location Elizabeth City, NC Shepherdstown, WV
Setting Distant Town Town Fringe
Enrollment 2,165 3,318
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #964 #884
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ecsu.edu shepherd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 ECSU Shepherd University
Tuition (In State) $1,000 $6,288
Tuition (Out of State) $5,000 $15,774
Room & Board $9,079 $11,308
Avg Net Price $7,363 $12,651
Avg Grant Aid $10,554 $8,183
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 95%

Admission

 ECSU Shepherd University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,360 1,793
Admitted 3,778 1,715
Acceptance Rate 70.5% 95.6%
Enrolled % 9.2% 33%
Avg High School GPA 3.16 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22 20/24
SAT Range 850/1070 900/1140
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 30, 2026

Academics

 ECSU Shepherd University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

 ECSU Shepherd University
Graduation Rate 44% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $30,700 $41,500
Making Student Loan Payments 23% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,125 $22,223
Median Loan Payment $270 $229

Diversity

 ECSU Shepherd University
% Men 1% 3%
% Women 4% 9%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 14% 82%
% Black 74% 10%
% Hispanic 2% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 8% 1%

Students

 ECSU Shepherd University
% In-State 69% 72%
% Out-of-State 24% 27%

Campus

 ECSU Shepherd University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Shepherd University is larger than than ECSU based on total student enrollment (3,318 students vs. 2,165 students)

ECSU vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECSU or Shepherd University?

  • Shepherd University is 528.8% more expensive to attend than ECSU for in-state tuition ($6,288.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 215.5% higher at Shepherd University than Elizabeth City State University ($15,774.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Elizabeth City State University than Shepherd University ($7,363 vs. $12,651)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elizabeth City State University are 24.6% lower than costs at Shepherd University ($9,079 vs. $11,308)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shepherd University than Elizabeth City State University (95% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elizabeth City State University students is 29% larger than aid received Shepherd University ($10,554 vs. $8,183)

ECSU vs. Shepherd University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECSU or Shepherd University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Shepherd University or ECSU .

  • The average SAT score at Shepherd University (995) is 151 points higher than at ECSU (844)
  • Incoming Shepherd University students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at ECSU (18)
  • Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at ECSU (3.16)
  • Shepherd University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than ECSU (70.5%)

ECSU vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ECSU or Shepherd University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Shepherd University and ECSU.

  • The graduation rate at Shepherd University is higher than Elizabeth City State University (46% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Shepherd University earn on average $10,800 more per year than ECSU graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $30,700)
  • Shepherd University students graduate with a $3,902 lower median federal student loan debt than ECSU graduates. ($22,223 vs. $26,125)
  • Shepherd University graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than ECSU graduates. ($229 vs. $270)
  • More Shepherd University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECSU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 23%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/